[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The Danes inuade this land.]
Shortlie after the decease of Dunstane, the Danes inuaded this realme
on each side, wasting and spoiling the countrie in most miserable
wise. They arriued in so manie places at once, that the Englishmen
could not well deuise whither to go to encounter first with them. Some
[Sidenote: _Alias_ Wecederport.]
[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
of them spoiled a place or towne called Wichport, and from thence
passing further into the countrie, were met with by the Englishmen,
who giuing them battell, lost their capteine Goda: but yet they got
[Sidenote: Danes vanquished.]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
the victorie, and beat the Danes out of the field, and so that part of
the Danish armie was brought to confusion. Simon Dunel. saith, that
the Englishmen in déed wan the field here, but not without great
[Sidenote: Goda earle of Deuonshire slain.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
losse. For besides Goda (who by report of the same author was Earle of
Deuonshire) there died an other valiant man of warre named Strenwold.
In the yeere 991, Brightnod earle of Essex, at Maldon gaue battell to
an armie of Danes (which vnder their leaders Iustine and Guthmond had
spoiled Gipswich) and was there ouercome and slaine with the most part
of his people, and so the Danes obteined in that place the victorie.
[Sidenote: 991.]
In the same yéere, and in the 13 yeere of, king Egelreds reigne, when
the land was on each side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by the
Danes, which couered the same as they had béene grashoppers: by the
aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie Siricius (which was the second
of that sée after Dunstane) a composition was taken with the Danes, so
[Sidenote: Ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes.]
[Sidenote: Danegilt.]
that for the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paied to them by the
king, they should couenant not to trouble his subjects anie further.
This monie was called Danegilt or Dane monie, and was leuied of the
people. Although other take that to be Danegilt, which was giuen vnto
such Danes as king Egelred afterwards reteined in his seruice, to
defend the land from other Danes and enimies that sought to inuade his
dominions. But by what name so euer this monie (which the Danes now
receiued) was called, true it is that herevpon they ceassed from their
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: 992.]
most cruell inuasions for a time. But shortlie after they had
refreshed themselues, and recouered new strength, they began to play
their old parts againe, dooing the like mischéefe by their semblable
inuasions, as they had vsed before. By reason hereof such feare came
vpon the English people, that they despaired to be able to resist the
enimies.
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: A nauie set forth.]
The king yet caused a nauie to be set foorth at London, whereof he
appointed earle Alfrike (whome before he had banished) to be high
admerall, ioining with him earle Turold. This nauie did set forward
from London toward the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from
Alfrike, escaped away without hurt. Shortly after a greater nauie of
the Danes came, and incountered with the kings fléet, so that a great
number of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships taken:
[Sidenote: Alfrike a traitour to his countrie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ¶ Matt. West.
maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in déed
being one of the chiefe capteins of the fléet, aduertised them by
forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they
should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the
Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with
them: but the other capteins of the kings fléet, as Theodred, Elstan,
and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all
those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt.
West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled
away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor
Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though
with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once before,
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: The son punished for his fathers offense.]
[Sidenote: 993.]
and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this mischiefe
wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar, and caused
his eies to be put out.
About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which
arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and
Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were
assembled to giue them battell, before they ioined, the capteines of
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
the English armie, Frena, Godwin, and Fredegist, that were Danes by
their fathers side began to flie away, and escaped, so giuing the
occasion of the ouerthrow that lighted on their people. But by some
writers it should appéere, that after the Danes had destroied all the
north parts, as they spred abroad without order and good arraie, the
[Sidenote: Aulafe king of Norway, & Swein king of Denmarke were
capteins of this fléet, as saith _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: 994.]
people of the countrie fell vpon them, and slue some of them, and
chased the residue. Other of the Danes with a nauie of 94 ships
entered the Thames, and besieged London about our ladie daie in
September. They gaue a verie sore assault to the citie, and assaied to
set it on fire: but the citizens so valiantlie defended themselues,
that the Danes were beaten backe and repelled, greatlie to their
losse, so that they were constreined to depart thence with dishonor.
Then they fell to and wasted the countries of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
[Sidenote: The king compounded with the Danes for monie.]
Hamshire, and ceassed not till they had inforced the king to compound
with them for 16 thousand pounds, which he was glad to pay to haue
peace with them.
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: Aufale king of Norwey baptised.]
[Sidenote: His promise.]
Moreouer, whereas they wintered that yéere at Southampton, the king
procured Aulafe king of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (where at
that time he lay) vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe
returne. Elphegus bishop of Winchester, and duke Ethelwold were
appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable
maner. The same time was Aulafe baptised, king Egelred receiuing him
at the fontstone, and so he promised neuer after to make anie war
within this land. And receiuing great gifts of the king, he returned
into his countrie, and kept his promise faithfullie: but the euils
tooke not so an end, for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had
béene the heads of the serpent Hydra, some of them euer being readie
to trouble the quiet state of the English nation.
[Sidenote: _Iohn Leland._]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
[Sidenote: 995.]
About this season, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 995,
bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the stréet (otherwise
called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of the
inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto
[Sidenote: The church of Durham builded.]
there began the foundation of a church; so that the sée of that
bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods were
there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew that
[Sidenote: Earle Vthred.]
place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited. Earle Vthred, who
gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this worke,
so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers of Coquid and
[Sidenote: Durham town and minster builded.]
Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe forwards the
building of the church and towne there.
* * * * *
_The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by
fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and conquer the Kentishmen
in field, king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland
and wasteth the countrie, the Summersetshire men are foiled; the
miserable state of the realme in those daies; the English bloud mixed
with the Danes and Britaines, and what inconueniencies grew thervpon,
the disordered gouernement of king Egelred, sicknesses vexing the
people, treason in the nobles, the tribute paid to the Danes
vnmercifillie inhansed, the realme brought to beggerie; king Egelred
by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of
Normandies daughter, vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title
to the crowne of England, they conquer the whole land, what order king
Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdoms, and what rule
they bare in this realme yer they were murdered, the thraldome of the
English people under them, whereof the word Lordane sprang._